Terrible Mazda Experience - 2013 6 Diesel

aoeueoa on 25/08/2017 - 21:33
Last edited 25/08/2017 - 21:34

Hello All

Have always thought of OzB as a bargain site, but I've seen some fierce discussions on here before too. Just wanted to post a link to my website (at bottom) so people can be aware of the issues I've had with my car, and the way Mazda has handled it. If I had known I could be treated this way when I had an issue, I wouldn't have come close to this car at all. It's been a really regretful purchase.

The cliff-notes are:

  • purchased 2nd hand from Artarmon Mazda, Oct 2015, $33k, 2013 model, had 1.5yr warranty, 13000km
  • 32 000km break down "stop the car now" sorta message on dash
  • Mazda can't find cause of the issue which is that the oil level rises and oil pressure is lost
  • take the car in multiple times, car gets about 3 "PCM updates" and still no fix despite continued assurances
  • last 4 oil changes have happened after just 4000km because the oil reaches its limits. Car has a 10 000km service interval
  • Mazda conclude the story by sending me a letter saying "no fault found on your car, we can't help you further". THis leaves me with a car that only gets 4000km until it needs oil changed
  • two days later they call me back and say "hey we want to look at the car again". It's just ridiculous.

I've detailed the whole events on my site. Complained to head office and have been dealing with them about this and they were who sent me the letter. Complained to Fair Trading but in fact they don't have authority to compel Mazda to do anything. Next step I'm looking at NCAT (tribunal) to force Mazda, but it's a very expensive process because I have to get the motor inspected and reported on by a credible expert (about $2000 quoted by a mech engineer just to look at it and not perform any repairs).

It's been so painful chasing them around that some days I am actually emotionally drained and upset about it.

https://mazda6dieselproblems.com/

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Comments

  • spackbace on 25/08/2017 - 21:52

    OK I read most of it and I've got 1 very big question…

    Why the hell did you keep taking it back to the same Mazda dealer??

    They can all do warranty work, and given they weren't giving you the best resolution, I would've been putting it in to another dealer to sort it out.

    So why did you persist with them?

    • aoeueoa on 25/08/2017 - 21:59

      This became a Mazda Australia case after escalation. The dealer just acts as a puppet for MA. If MA wants the dealer to collect XYZ data from the computer, that's what that dealer does. If MA wants an oil change, the dealer complies with that request. MA were calling the shots.

      Taking it to another dealer would have changed nothing as it was no longer a dealer-level issue.

      • spackbace on 25/08/2017 - 22:14

        So you went straight to MA after the first inspection? Why not a different dealer then?

  • Cheeper on 26/08/2017 - 01:32

    Nothing unsual for ANY dealership to give you the run around. Could tell you some horror stories about toyota… :-(
    When you mentioned rising oil level i remembered reading something about it previously, apparently it is not uncommon with diesels.
    This google result might give you something to go on..
    https://www.google.com.au/search?q=diesel+oil+level+rises&ie…
    Unless your problem is something very simple and clear or your dash is flashing a fault code for them to follow dealerships need to be told what the problem precisely is and how to correct it otherwise they will just fob you off until you go elsewhere.
    I wonder now if this is why it was traded when it was only 2 years old?? Do you have the details of the previous owner? If they had the same problem they might be able to give you more to go on? The dealership would have a record if the previous owner had the same problem and reported it… but there is no way they would disclose that to you.

  • pegaxs on 26/08/2017 - 08:38
    +1

    Oil level rising?? There is only one cause for that and that is something is filling it up. Being a diesel, it could be a coolant leak dropping water into the oil, but any mechanic would know as soon as they removed the dipstick as the oil would be milky white looking or the water could be visible if the car sat over night.

    Second would be fuel leaking into the oil. Bad injectors, seal around injectors, loose pipes, I don't know enough about Mazda engines to know how they feed their injectors. But that all being said, a rise in engine oil level usually means contamination with something…

    As to why pressure is lost when the level gets too high is a bit beyond me. As I said, I have never worked on Mazda vehicles, so I can not profess to know how their warning/safety systems work, but if the sump is filling with fuel, this would cause the engine oil to thin out considerably. Thin oil in and engine will not pump as well as it escapes easier from between bearings and gaps and won't give enough resistance to build up pressure.

    I would question a massive fuel leak into the oil. This would keep the oil looking like oil, because diesel is oil so mixes very easily with engine oil, unlike water, and it explains the rising oil level and loss off engine oil pressure.

    • aoeueoa on 26/08/2017 - 12:17

      Yea it is def diesel, known issue with earlier CX5 diesels which use the same engine as mine. Had a computer fix issued to them.

      The theory about loss of pressure could be lower oil viscosity or the oil pickup getting blocked by sludge.

  • oscargamer on 26/08/2017 - 08:52
    +1

    why not write to drive.com.au or autoexpert.com.au

    they might be interested in following this up for you

    at least it would get more publicity for you

    • aoeueoa on 26/08/2017 - 12:18

      I did write to drive.com.au or one of those other sites, and they just put it in their Q&A section and answered with an old solution which had already been applied to my car (but clearly not working or related).

      I have been having private email chats with autoexpert but was never after publicity via his channels.

      • oscargamer on 26/08/2017 - 12:21

        did he give any advice that was helpful?

        • aoeueoa on 26/08/2017 - 12:31

          He didn't give any advice which I already knew. Don't mean that to discredit him in anyway, but I researched the issue and my options pretty well before talking to him about it.

        • oscargamer on 26/08/2017 - 13:45

          @aoeueoa:

          time to sell it and get a car that's less stressful?

        • aoeueoa on 26/08/2017 - 19:37

          @oscargamer:

          I think it would be unethical to sell a car with these issues that can't be solved by Mazda, even if i disclose it. I wouldn't want to dump this problem on someone.

        • oscargamer on 26/08/2017 - 19:43

          @aoeueoa:

          i hear you

          trade it for a new car…….caveat emptor

  • Steptoe on 26/08/2017 - 12:52
    -1

    Contact A Current Affair?

    Have you had an oil analysis done?

  • unclekenz on 27/08/2017 - 12:17

    Learn all about (google) issues around DPF in diesel motors.

    Best idea is to have DPF system removed, vehicle reprogrammed to eliminate DPF monitoring.

    In Sydney, this is who to consult:
    https://chiptuning.com.au/mazda-dpf-elimination-dpf-off/

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